HARLEM, Manhattan — June 16, 2020 Update: On Thursday, the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force determined the noose was actually rope used to hoist construction materials in the fall. It had been left there afterward.
Original post:
Someone hung a noose onto the bell tower in Marcus Garvey Park, police said Monday.
A Parks Department worker alerted the NYPD about it and the noose, which was near Mount Morris Park and East 122nd Street, was removed, officials said. There is a complaint report on file for aggravated harassment and the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force was notified.
The noose was first spotted Saturday, THE CITY reported. Someone in the park called 311 about it. THE CITY contacted the Parks Department and the NYPD about it.
Its discovery comes amid ongoing protests over police brutality, racial injustice and the police custody death of George Floyd.
“We are dismayed by this incident,” a Parks Department spokeswoman said. “We immediately notified NYPD and removed the rope from the tree.”
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer called it “despicable.”
“It’s disturbing that there are people out there who would do this, but we have seen these past few weeks that there are so many more who are against what this hateful symbol stands for,” she tweeted. “Our diversity makes us strong.”
